Fluid administration apparatus



May 17, 1966 R. P. EVANS 3,251,390

FLUIYD ADMINI STRAT ION APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR.

ROBERT P. EVANS X 4- ATTORNEYS May 17, 1966 R. P. EVANS 3,251,390

FLUID ADMINISTRATION APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT F? EVANS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3 251,390 FLUID AnMlNisTRA'noN APPARATUS Robert P. Evans, 61 Deerhurst Park Blvd., Kenmore, NSY. Filed July 17, 1963, Ser. No. 295,656 4 Claims. (Cl. 150-3) This invention relates to apparatus for administering enema uids, vaginal fluids, naso-gastric feeding materials, barium enema fluids, irrigation, and the like to patients in convalescent homes, hospitals; or for the collection of fluids or other uses. More particularly, this invention pertains to a self-closing and self-sealing, large-mouth, flexible bag for holding liquids in connection with such operations; whereby the filled bag may be either hung vertically or disposedto rest iiatwise on a horizontal table or the like, without leaking.

The bag of this invention is preferably formed of an imperforate flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl of transparent or translucent quality; for cleanliness, economy and ease of fabrication and use. It is readily attachable to or removed from a hook support, and liquid level markings may be provided thereon to indicate quantities of the contained liquid. A delivery tube may be attached to the bottom of the bag if required, without interfering in any way with the self-closing and self-sealing operation of the bag as will be explained hereinafter.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved bag construction for the purposes set forth hereinabove, which features improved facility for the user when handling the bag for filling it as from a pitcher, beaker, faucet, tube or the like.

Another object is to provide an improved bag construction as aforesaid which is automatically self-closing and liquid-sealing after being filled.

Still another object is to provide an improved bag as aforesaid which when closed and self-sealed may be disposed to lie atwise on a horizontal surface while remaining in leakproof condition.

Still another object is to provide an improved bag construction as aforesaid which will not sag into distorted condition when hung from a hook or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved bag as aforesaid which after being closed and liquid-sealed may readily be reopened for subsequent refillings, as may be required.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front perspective view of a bag of the invention, in normal unstressed condition;

FIG. 2 is an opposite side perspective view thereof when stressed into mouth-opened condition in response to application of manual pressures at opposite sides of the neck of the bag;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the bag closure-handle device rst-folded into mouth-closed and hanging condition;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view party in section taken on the plane of line 4 4 of FIG. 2; v

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of line 5 5 of FIG. 3, and illustrating how the closed bag may be hung on a hook or the like;

FIG. 6 illustrates how a bag equipped with the closurehandle device of the invention may be second-folded under the bag while the latter is disposed to lie on a horizontal surface, thereby securely liquid-sealing the device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section view taken on the plane of line '7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7 but illustrates how the bag of the invention, when empty, may be flatwise disposed in a compact storage or packaging arrangement; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of bag body construction such as may be advantageously employed in conjunction with the selfclosing and liquid-sealing features of the invention.

As shown in the drawing herewith, a bag embodying the features of the invention may be constructed as indicated generally at 10 to be made from stock in the form of endless tubing of transparent polyethylene or polyvinyl or any other suitable material, cut into lengths and then closed at the bottom end by cementing or heat-sealing or the like, as may be preferred.. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the bottom end of the bag may be funneled-shaped if preferred, and provided with an outlet such as by means of a nipple 12 for connection to a delivery tube as indicated at 14. Or, in lieu thereof, an outlet tube may be directly sealed in communication with the interior of the bag. Bag content indications, and/or other indicia, may be printed or otherwise marked on the sideof the bag as indicated at 16,;-

The top end of the bag is 'square-cut as indicated at 18, and a relatively rigid but springy plate member as indicated generally at 20, formed of stiff but resilient plastic or metal oran equivalent is iixed against one side of the bag member so as to span the width of the mouth portion of the bag when it is in flat-folded position. lf the plate 20 is formed of plastic material, it may be heat-sealed or cemented to the side of the bag member, but in any case is affixed thereto so as to be continuously integral with one side of the neck thereof and affixed thereto in an area designated 21 only adjacent the top rim portion. Thus, as shown in FIGS. l, 2, 4, the plate member 2) extends transversely of the bag rim along one side thereof from one edge fold to the other with its top edge 22 preferably disposed slightly below the rim of the bag; and furthermore extends downwardly from the area 21 of interconnection with the bag to provide a free hanging skirt portion 24. The skirt portion is centrally apertured as indicated at 26 to provide a finger hole for manual manipulation of the plate member as will be explained hereinafter; and the aperture may be reinforced if desired by molding the plate in beaded-edge form as shown at 27. i

The plate member Ztl is initially fabricated to be slight-A ly dished or arcuately shaped in top edge view, whereby whenever the device is gripped by a user between the thumb and forengers and squeezed therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 1, the mouth of the bag will be stressed into open position so that fluids may be poured into the bag with utmost ease and facility as from a pitcher, flask or the like. Thus the bag may be held in one hand while the pouring container is held in the other. Then, upon filling of the bag with the desired quantity of content, the endwise squeezing pressures on the plate 20 may be relaxed, whereupon the plate will reassume a substantially flat configuration while drawing the mouth of the bag into substantially closed condition. The lower skirt portion of the plate member may then be swung outwardly and away from the side of the bag and upwardly through degrees as into the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings herewith; the area of interconnection 21 between the bag and the plate member functioning as a hinge device for this action. Simultaneously therewith the top neck portion of the bag is folded over and downwardly about a fold line as indicated at 28, FIG. 5. The bag may then be conveniently hung, for example, on a hook or the like as indicated at 30, to suspend from the plate device 20 while the mouth of the bag is thereby maintained in completely closed and sealed condition.

In lieu of hanging the bag as shown in FIG. 5 for example, the bag is also adapted to be laid atwise upon a table surface or the like, even though in liquid-filled condition. For this purpose, the plate member 20 is further rotated through another i8() degrees beyond the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 so as to dispose the plate 20 in atwise condition against the opposite side of the bag, as shown for example in FIGS. 6, 7. Thus, the edge 22 of the plate member will have functioned as a fulcrum for a secondary hinge support effect between the plate and the bag per se, about which the bag material has been again folded. Incidental thereto the previously free ap portion comprising the upper rim of the bag which extends above the plate 20 as shown in FIGS. l, 2, will be under-folded between the bag body and the plate 20 as shown in FIGS. 6, 7. Hence, the mouth of the bag will now have been closed by means of a triple fold arrangement about parallel fold lines. Furthermore, the plate member 20 will thus be disposed so that it may be placed under the body of the filled bag as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, whereby the weight of the bag contents will act to maintain the plate in firm liquid-sealingposition under the bag. FIG. 8 illustrates how the bag of the invention is adapted to be flatwise disposed when not in use for compact packaging and/ or storagel purposes.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the bag of the present invention provides important facilities and conveniences in connection with the administration of fluids to patients as explained hereinabove. Supplies of these bags may be conveniently compacted `in flat-stacked position in any suitable storage facility. The bag may be picked up in one hand and by application of simple squeezing pressure against the opposite ends of the handle plate member, the mouth'of the bag will be thereby opened to the desired degree, such 'as to accommodate the pouring of uids thereinto from pitcher or beaker held in the other hand of the operator. Then upon filling of the bag, the handle member is simply flipped outwardly and over the top end of the bag,'whereby the multiple fold sealing of the mouth of the bag is effected, as explained hereinabove. Thus it will be apparent that the bag of the invention handles with greatly improved facility compared to prior devices for similar purposes.

It will of course be understood that whereas only one specific form of the bag of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail herein, various changes be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a flexible large mouthed bag and a combination handle and mouth closure control device therefor, said bag being of generally tubular shape and formed of transparent pliable material normally residing lin flat-folded condition with opposite side portions lying in side-by-side contiguous relation, the mouth edge portion of said bag being matched-cut in substantially straight line form transversely thereof, said handle and closure control device comprising a plate member formed of relatively stiff but springy material and having a straight line top edge portion, said plate member being fixedly attached to one side portion of said bag substantially continuously along a line adjacent said plate top edge portion with said plate -top edge portion being disposed parallel to but spaced below the mouth edge portion of said bag, said plate member being set to normally assume a slightly bowed form whereby manual squeezing pressures applied to opposite ends thereof will bow said plate member still further toward semi-cylindrical form while carrying with it the attached side portion of said bag thereby facilitating opening of the mouth of said bag, said plate member having a depending skirt portion lying loosely along the attached side bag portion and adapted to be manually engaged and levered outwardly from said bag whereby the zone of attachment between said plate and said bag functions as a fulcrum about which said plate may be continued to rotate through 360` thereby disposing said plate in generally flatwise relation against the other side of said bag, while during the rotating process the opposite side portions of said bag will have been `interfolded three times along lines paralleling the mouth rim portion of the bag to provide a secure liquid seal.

2. A flexible bag an-d a combination handle and bag mouth closure control device therefor, said handle and closure control device comprising a plate member formed of relatively stiff but springy material and having a top edge portion, said plate member being fixedly attached to one side portion of said bag with said plate top edge portion being disposed parallel to but spaced below the mouth edge portion of said bag, said plate member being set to normally assume a slightly bowed form whereby manual squeezing pressures applied to opposite ends thereof will bow said plate member still further toward semi-cylindrical form while carrying with it the attached side portion of said bag thereby opening the mouth of said bag, said plate member having a depending skirt portion lying loosely along the attached side bag portion and adapted to be manually engaged and levered outwardly from said bag whereby the zone of attachment between said plate and said bag functions as a fulcrum about which said plate may be continued to rotate until said plate is disposed in generally flatwise relation against the other side of said bag, while during the rotating process the opposite side portions -of said bag will have been interfolded three times along lines paralleling the mouth rim portion of the bag to provide a secure liquid seal.

3. In combination, a flexible open-mouthed bag and a combination handle and mouth closure control device therefor, said bag normally residing in flat-folded condition with opposite side portions lying in side-by-side relation, said handle and closure control device comprising a plate member formed of relatively stiff material having a top edge portion, said plate member being attached to one side portion of said bag along a line adjacent said plate top edge portion with said plate top edge portion being disposed parallel to but spaced below the mouth edge portion of said bag, said plate member being set to normally assume a slightly bowed form whereby manual squeezing pressures applied to opposite ends thereof will bow said plate member still further toward semi-cylindrical form while carrying with it the attached side portion of said bag opening the mouth of said bag, said plate member having a depending skirt portion lying freely along the attached side bag portion and adapted to be manually engaged and levered outwardly from said bag whereby the zone of attachment between said plate and said bag functions as a fulcrum about which said plate may be rotated to dispose said plate in generally atwise relation against the other side of said bag, while during the rotating process the 0pposite side portions of said bag will have been interfolded three times along lines paralleling the mouth rim portion of the bag to provide a secure liquid seal.

4. In combination, a exible mouthed bag and a combmation handle and mouth closure control device therefor, said handle and closure control device -comprising a member formed of relatively stiff but springy material and having a straight line top edge portion, said member being attached to one side portion of said bag with the top edge of said member being disposed adjacent the mouth of said bag, said member being set to normally assume a slightly bowed form whereby manual squeezing pressures applied to opposite ends thereof will bow said member still further toward semi-cylindrical form while carrying with it the attached side portion of said portion of said bag thereby opening the mouth of said bag, said member having a depending tab portion lying loosely along the attached side bag portion and adapted to be manually engaged and levered outwardly from said bag yto rotate said member through 360 thereby disposing 5 said member in generally atwise relation against the `other side of said bag, while during the rotating process the `opposite side portions of said bag will have been multiple folded along lines paralleling the mouth rim portion of the bag to provide a secure liquid seal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 488,783 12/1892 Weber 229-65 1,907,657 5/1933 Ottinger 15C-7X Wentz 229--64 Miller ISO-2.1

London 15G-7 Whitney 1502.1 X

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. FRANKLINV T. GARRETT, Examiner. I. F. MCNULTY, D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A FLEXIBLE LARGE MOUTHED BAG AND A COMBINATION HANDLE AND MOUTH CLOSURE CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR, SAID BAG BEING OF GENERALLY TUBULAR SHAPE AND FORMED OF TRANSPARENT PLIABLE MATERIAL NORMALLY RESIDING IN FLAT-FOLDED CONDITION WITH OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS LYING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE CONTIGUOUS RELATION, THE MOUTH EDGE PORTION OF SAID BAG BEING MATCHED-CUT IN SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT LINE FORM TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID HANDLE AND CLOSURE CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER FORMED OF RELATIVELY STIFF BUT SPRINGY MATERIAL AND HAVING A STRAIGHT LINE TOP EDGE PORTION, SAID PLATE MEMBER BEING FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO ONE SIDE PORTION OF SAID BAG SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY ALONG A LINE ADJACENT SAID PLATE TOP EDGE PORTION WITH SAID PLATE TOP EDGE PORTION BEING DISPOSED PARALLEL TO BUT SPACED BELOW THE MOUTH EDGE PORTION OF SAID BAG, SAID PLATE MEMBER BEING SET TO NORMALLY ASSUME A SLIGHTLY BOWED FORM WHEREBY MANUAL SQUEEZING PRESSURES APPLIED TO OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF WILL BOW SAID PLATE MEMBER FUTHER TOWARD SEMI-CYLINDRICAL FORM WHILE CARRYING WITH IT THE ATTACHED SIDE PORTION OF SAID BAG THEREBY FACILITATING OPENING OF THE MOUTH OF SAID BAG, SAID PLATE MEMBER HAVING A DEPENDING SKIRT PORTION LYING LOOSELY ALONG THE ATTACHED SIDE BAG PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY ENGAGED AND LEVERED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BAG WHEREBY THE ZONE OF ATTACHMENT BETWEEN SAID PLATE AND SAID BAG FUNCTIONS AS A FULCRUM ABOUT WHICH SAID PLATE MAY BE CONTINUTED TO ROTATE THROUGH 360* THEREBY DISPOSING SAID PLATE IN GENERALLY FLATWISE RELATION AGAINST THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BAG, WHILE DURING THE ROTATING PROCESS THE OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BAG WILL HAVE BEEN INTERFOLDED THREE TIMES ALONG LINES PARALLELING THE MOUTH RIM PORTION OF THE BAG TO PROVIDE A SECURE LIQUID SEAL. 